Car-step



(No Model.)

F. H. STANWOOD.

GAR STEP.

No. 385,017. Patented June 26, 1888.

vIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII'wIIIIA g rm i m N m W N. PElERS..Phc(01ilhogmpher. Wmhingmn. D4 Q ZTJ'NHED STATES TENT Urine FRANK H. STANWVOOD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CAR-STEP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 385,017, dated June 26, 1888. Application tiled March 5, 1888. Serial No. 266,l29. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK H. Smnwoon, acitizen of the United States, residing at Chicage, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in OarSteps, of which the following is a specification.

In this invention I form the body of the step of a series of thin metal strips bent to an approximately zigzag shape and placed side by side, edge uppermost, with the outside angles of the bends abutting against each other, thereby forming between the strips open bot tomless meshes of a diamond or other desired shape. Surrounding the reticulated body thus constructed is a metal frame channeled interiorly to receive the ends of the strips, and the structure is stiffened and prevented from sagging at its center by one or more rods passed through the series of strips and secured in the frame. These and other novel features of construction are fully set forth in the description given below, to which reference is hereby made.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan, and Fig. 2 a front elevation, of my improved car-step, both views being partly in section. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view showing the corner of the frame and adjacent portion of the meshed structure. Fig. 4 is an enlarged section showing the joint between the frame and the ends of the sheet-metal strip. Fig. 5 is a section of one of the strips.

In said drawings, A represents the surrounding frame, consisting of one or more pieces, as desired, and having an internal channel, a. An approximate construction of the joint between the ends of the frame is shown at Fig. 1, a supplemental piece, a, binding the joint and riveted to the ends,being applied, and the other joints, if there be others, may be made in like manner.

B B are the sheet-metal strips of which the openwork body of the step is composed. They are bent to an approximately zigzag line, and are placed side by side and edge upward, with the outer sides or points of the angles of each abutting against the outer sides of the angles of the neighbor strips. The points of the angles are preferably flattened, as shown at b, to enlarge the bearing-surface at the abutting junctions. There is thus formed between the strips numerous diamond or approximately diamond shaped meshes, which,being bottomless, afford ready escape for the snow, ice, and dirt detached from the feet of people passing over the step. The lines of the strips, being broken in every direction, resist slipping very effectually.

I am aware that band-iron placed edgewise has been used in door-mats; but I prefer to form my strips by shearing them from sheet metal, as the edges of the strips thus produced are not founded, as in the band-iron. The corners of the metal are also rendered sharp, instead of being smooth or rounded off,as in the band-iron, and this feature makes them specially scrviceable in preventing slippin To stiffen the step and prevent sagging at its weakest part, I run one or more rods, 0, transversely through the series of strips and secure them in the frame, as shown. Ofcourse,

if the strips were made to run longitudinally of the step instead of transversely thereof, as shown, the rods should run transversely of the stepinstead oflongitudinally, as shown. These rods may pass under instead of through the strips, if preferred.

1) D are the hangers by which the step is suspended, and are provided with horizontal members (1, upon which it may rest, and to which it is bolted by the bolts e. The ends of the step are covered by plates E, which form seats for the heads of bolts 6, and such plates may be of angleiron and cover the ends of the step, as shown, if desired, and when so made of angleiron the vertical portion may be used to unite the ends of the frame instead of the supplemental piece a. Vhile I have shown the invention as applied to a car-step, I wish it understood that it is applicable to the steps of other vehicles as well.

I hereby disclaim the door-mats shown in Patents Nos. 301,433, 153,735, and 130,808 as not of my invention.

I claim 1. The car-step composed of zigzag strips of sheet metal placed edge upward and side by side, transverse strengthening-rods, and a surrounding frame, in combination with hangers, substantially as specified.

2. The car-step composed of zigzag strips of sheet metal placed edge upward and side by 4. The combination, with the reticulated 13 side with their angles abutting, as described, step-body and its surrounding frame, of the and asuitablesnrrounding frame, in combinaplates E and hangers D, substantially as set tion with hangers for suspending the step from forth.

the car, substantially as specified.

3. The combination of the strips B B, bent l FRALK STANWOOD' and positioned as described, the rods 0, the Witnesses: frame A, and plates E, with the hangers D, EDW. S. EVARTS, substantially as specified. H. M. MUNDAY. 

